Power transmission control mechanism



i LEWm POWER TRANSMISSION CONTROL MECHANISM Original Filed March 51, 1933 Patented Apr. 28, 1936 UN [TE D STAT E S eAr ENT OFFICE POWER TRANSMISSEON GONTROL MECHANISM Application March 31, 1933, Serial No. 663,784 Renewed September 25," 1935:

4' Claims.

This: invention relates primarily'to control of a plurality of. mechanisms. combinedxin the. propulsion system of a motor vehicle. More specifically, it relates to. a novel manual. control means. adapted to be mounted on. a motor vehicle in a position conveniently accessible to an operator thereof to provide for independent manipulation of a plurality of. movable elements from a. single manually operable. control. member.

In 'motor vehicles provided with a. single direction drive: clutch. of the. free wheel type having a device for locking the. clutchimembers in fixed engagement, and an automaticclutch which may be governed as. to its. mode of operation by a controlpedal so. that it may be manually engaged or disengaged, with. provision for retaining the control pedal in a certain position within the limits of its ra-nge' of movement so asto provide forautomatic operationoi the clutch, an arrangement for conveniently operating the locking de-- vice for the free. Wheeling. clutchrand for controlling the means for retaining: the clutch pedal in automatic position, is provided by the present invention. One. typeof automatic clutch contemplatedis disclosed in the co-pending application of. Wade Morton and William E. Haupt; Serial Number: 595,184, filed February 25, 1932 and: assignedto the assignee of the present in-- vention.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the pres-- ent invention to provide a common operating means fora independent operation, from a single manipulating member, of aplurality of control members associatedwith some of the mechanismsofa motor vehicle.

A further object of my invention is to provide a common operating means for operating, from a single manually controlled member, a positionretaining means for a clutch control member'and a clutch. member-locking means for a unidirectional clutch.

Another object of the present invention is to provide novel means for automatically retaining the. control member of an automatic clutch mechanism in position topermit automatic operation of the clutch upon movement of the eontrol member through a portion of its range of movement, in combination with means for releasing the retaining means to permit or cause return of the control member'to one or more nonautomatic positions in its range of movement.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide novel means biased for movement to-a position for retaining the control member of anautomatic clutch mechanism in a certain position. within the limits; of itsrange of movement;.

A further object of the present inventionis to provideiretaining meansl ior cooperation with a control member of. an automatic clutch mecha- 5 nism', biasedfor movement in a direction for; retaining. the control. member. in a. given position within. its range: oi. movement, and including a cam surf aceor. the like enabling thecontrol member. toibe.-moved;.from another: position within its range of: movement; into operative retaining engagement. with the; retaining means.

A still-further object of the present invention is to provide retaining means for cooperation with a control member. of an automatic clutch-:mechanism; biased for movement in: a direction torretaining the control member in a selected position and: including. a cam surface? for enabling the control member'to. be; moved; to the. selected positionfromianother given position withinitsrange. of. movement, and: separate. meansior'movingthe retaining meansi out of: the position to whichitis biased to permit return. of the operating: member to saidigiverriposition.

Stil-lzanother object: of; the present. invention is to. provide retaining meansfor: cooperation with a: control. member: of an automatic clutch mechanism, biased for movemnt in. a: direction for retaining the. control. member in a -selected position, andxincluding: a cami surface whereby it may bemoved'irom.theiposition to which it is normally biasedifor'engagement with'the control member as the control member moves toward'the selected positiorn. andz manually controlled means connected. to the retaining means through a lost motion connection so that the manual controlling means may. remain stationary as the control member. engages; with the. cam.v surface of the biasing means to move it from itsbiasecl.v position. 40

Another.- objectof the present invention is to provide av novel unitary; controlling, devicewhich maybe readily; fixed to-a conveniently accessible portion of a motor vehicle.

Still anotherobject ofv my invention is to provide anovel. unitary controlling. device embodying a manually operable. member supported for special rotation and reciprocation to operate separate. control members through suitable connections, one control member. being operated by reciprocation ofthe manually operable member and the otherconnection being'operated by rotary movementsof the manually operable member.

Still another object of my invention is to provide anovel controlling device embodying a single manually operable member supported for several distinct movements, with means for retaining the member in several predetermined positions in the range of said movements.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a novel unitary controlling device comprising a unitary frame adapted to receive a member partially journaled therein, for reciprocation longitudinally and rotation through an angle, by manipulation of the portion of the member which projects beyond its bearing in the frame.

Further and more specific objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when studied in connection with the accompanying drawing and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View of a preferred embodiment of the control operating device of my invention.

Figure 2 is a detail view in cross-section taken on line IIII of Figure 1, in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation and on reduced scale, illustrating somewhat diagrammatically an automatic clutch in combination with a transmission and free wheeling unit, and showing a control arrangement therefor in accordance with the present invention. The device of Figures 1 and 2 is assembled in slightly distorted position in this view for the sake of clarity.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in section taken on line IVIV of Figure 3 in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of that control arrangement illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

The remote control device of Figures 1 and 2 will be hereinafter described as controlling in a novel manner a plurality of control elements associated with the driving system of a motor vehicle. While I have chosen to illustrate my invention in connection with the controls of an automatic clutch and a free wheeling unit, it is to be understood that the invention is not specifically limited thereto, but will have general utility for the remote operation of two movable control members of any kind.

Referring to the drawing in detail, numeral 6 represents the instrument panel or other portion of a motor vehicle conveniently accessible to the operator thereof. This panel carries a controlling device generally indicated by the numeral 8 and the structural details of which will clearly appear as the description proceeds. In Figure 3, there is illustrated a power transmission system for a motor vehicle, certain of the elements of which are controlled in a novel manner from the control device 8.

An automatic clutch Ifi,-of the character described in'the co-pending application referred to previously or of that disclosed in the application of William E. Haupt, Serial Number 488,75'7is operatively carried in clutch housing l2. A casing l5 houses a free wheeling unit of the type having an overrunning clutch mechanism with means for positively engaging the power transmitting element of the free wheeling clutch under control of an operating lever 55. Movement of lever to to the left looks out the free wheeling feature, and a direct driving connection to the vehicle wheels thereby is secured. The lever I6 is under manual control from the device 8 in a manner later set forth. Coupling member l8 may be connected to the driven axle in any suitable manner as by a propeller shaft.

A conventional change speed transmission 20, having a shifting lever 2| is interposed in the drive system between the free wheel clutch and the clutch iii.

A clutch pedal 3| is mounted on a clutch throwout shaft 38 for oscillation between the two broken line positions marked Engaged and Disengaged in Figure 3. The pedal also has an intermediate or normal position, marked Automatic, in which it may be held by the hook H of a swinging latch member 39 after depression of the pedal against the resistance of any conventional retracting spring. Pivotal movement of the latch member is accomplished by manual operation of the control device 8 in a manner later set forth. For the sake of clarity, it may be mentioned at this time that when the pedal is latched in automatic position, the clutch l0 engages and disengages entirely automatically in response to variations in engine speed; that when the pedal is in engaged position the clutch is firmly engaged regardless of engine speed; and that when the pedal is in disengaged position the clutch is disengaged regardless of engine speed.

In order to establish the proper working relationship between the latch 39, the pedal 3! and the clutch control shaft 33, so as to ensure automatic clutch operation when the pedal is latched, the shaft 38 carries an arm 42 which is keyed or otherwise suitably secured thereto, an arcuate slot 43 being formed in a segmental portion of the arm 42, and the pedal being rotatably mounted on shaft 38 and may be clamped to arm 42 for proper adjustment into different relative angular positions by means of clamping bolt 44.

In order to control the automatic clutch mechanism in response to movement of the clutch pedal, the shaft 38 carries a fork 32 which oscillates therewith to cause longitudinal shifting movement of a clutch throwout sleeve and bearing assembly 39 that is carried on the usual throwout support located in the housing E2. The sleeve and bearing assembly bear against the inner ends of a set of radial fingers 27 which are pivoted intermediate their ends at 28 on an extension (not shown) of the fiywheel of the engine.

A suitable automatic clutch contemplated for use in the housing i2 is disclosed in full detail in the aforementioned co-pending application Serial Number 595,184, and hence the preceding description, when taken with the following brief outline of the clutch structure and its mode of operation, should suffice to clarify those features of clutch operation which are pertinent to the control system of the present invention.

The outer ends of the fingers react rearwardly against the flanged edge of a clutch backing plate 26 which is mounted for synchronous rotation with the engine flywheel and axially movable relative to the latter. Yielding means constantly urges the backing plate forwardly as far as permitted by the fingers 2? and hence its axial position at any time depends rather closely upon the position of the pedal 3|.

Another plate 23, aptly called the automatic plate because it is shiftable axially in response to variations in engine speed, rotates synchronously with the flywheel. Between the plates 23 and 28, there is disposed a driven plate or disc 2 axially splined on the usual driven clutch shaft which transmits the driving power of the aoeaooe engine tothe transmissionmechanism 20. The three friction plates. cooperate to establish clutch engagement and disengagement, as follows.

With the pedal 3| latched in automatic position and: the-adjusting. nut. 44. properly. set, the fingers 2T. permitthe backing plate26 to be urged forwardly to such position that when.the engine is operating at speeds substantially above idling. speed, centrifugal means can. urge the automatic plate 23. rearwardly to thrust the driven. plate 2.4 into. frictional engagement with said backing plateand. thus establish a drive. However, the backing plate position is such that, when the engine speed is substantially at or below idling, the plates are disengaged. The clutch therefore'is entirely automatic in the illustrated full line position.

In order to... obtain clutch engagement when the engine is idling or deadas may be desirable for. purposes of utilizing. the engine as a brake orifor towing the vehicle to start the engine -the latch 39 may be. released to permit the pedal to moverearwardly to engaged position. Upon this rearward pedal movement, the fingers 211 permit the backing plate 26 to be thrust so far forwardly that the three plates are frictionally engaged. At. this time, the automatic plate 23 is. in its extreme forward position and hence can not operate automatically to establish a clearance in the plate assembly.

It may be. desired to release the clutch when the engine is operating at speeds substantially above idling speed, but this cannot be accomplished in the automatic and engaged positions just discussed. However, by manually depressing the pedal to the illustrated disengaged position, the fingers 21 will thrust the backing plate 25 so. far rearwardly that the automatic plate 23 will reach its own limit of rearward motion without clamping the driven plate 2a in clutching. engagement.

With pedal M in the automatic position and control member it of the free wheeling unit in the operative free wheeling position, the transmission mechanism has no driving connection at either end with any of the moving parts until theengine is accelerated. When the engine throttle is closed, with the lever l6 in operative free; wheeling position, shift lever 21 may be readily moved to select the desired gear ratio.

When, the vehicle is traveling at high speed and it is desired to use the engine as a brake by driving it from the road wheels, lever l6 may be moved to its lockout position to lock the free wheeling overrunning clutch. A direct drive is thus establishedfrom the rear wheels to the engine until the engine drops below idling speeds.

The latch member 39 is pivotally carried from support 45 which may be secured in any suitable manner to housing l2, for example by screws or bolts We. Support 55 includes a unitary forwardly extending arm 47 to which bracket 48, which serves as the pivotal support for latch 39, is connected in any suitable manner. In the illustrated embodiment, bracket 48 is adjustably secured to arm ll of the support by a bolt 49 which extends. through elongated apertures in the bracket and the support to provide for adjustable movement of member 48. Latch 3 is pivotally connected to member 58 by any suitable means, as pivot pin 58; An inwardly bent stop 55 is formed on the vertical arm of bracket 48 to prevent movement of the latch member beyond its pedal engaging position.

The pedal engaging hook ll at the upper end of latch member. 39 has an upper edge. 52 which extends at approximately a right angle to the plane of movement offpedal 3! for a purpose to be described.

The end 54 of latch 395 forms an obtuse angle with the body portion. on which hook M is formed. The pivot point 58: of the latch mem ber lies substantially at the intersection of end 56 and the body portion of the latch. Control wire 55 of Bowden cable 58 is fixed in any suitable manner to the end 5 3 of the latch member, for example by apertured post 59 and thumb screw M. A spring 62 is connected to end portion 56 of the latch to bias the latch member into position for engagement with pedal 3i. A slight amount of slack: in control wire 5% is permissible as stop 5! previously described checks the movement of latch member 39 beyond its pedal engaging position. Spring 62. may be hooked over post 59 with its opposite end connected by bracket 63 to therear end of the engine housing.

As previously stated, clutch pedal 36 may be held in its full line or automatic position by hook ll of the latch member. I-Iook 4| may be released from engagement with the pedal to per-- mit the pedal to move to the right hand dotted line or engaged position by exerting a pull on control wire 56, which will move the latch member 39 in a clockwise direction about pivot point 5b, as viewed on Figure 4, to move hook ii to the right out of engagement with pedal 32.

If the pull on control wire 58 is released, spring 62 will return latch member 39 to the position shown in the drawing in which it will be held by stop 5!. Horizontal edge 52 prevents clockwise movement of the latch if pedaliil is moved toward its automatic position to avoid distortion of cable 58- and damage to the cable operator.

Control lever is isoperated from a remote point by control wire 65; of Bow-den cable 6'8, which is supported on bracket 69' mounted on the housing l5 of the free wheeling device.

The controlling device Bis used to operate control wires 56 and 65 independently from single manually controlled member. Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, said device 3 comprises a unitary frame member H on which is formed a cylindrical boss or: projection. i2 externally threaded at its outer end as indicated by numeral 33;. Frame H is secured to the instrument panel 6 or other convenient portion of the motor ve hicle by insertion of boss '52? from the rear of panel 6 into a suitable panel aperture which may be slightly larger than the external diameter of the boss. Cover plate 15, which may be elliptical in outline as shown in Figure 2 or of other ornamental configuration, fits over boss "52 in contact with instrument panel 6, against which it is clamped by nut l6 which engages thread "53. Cover plate 75' is positioned with respect to the instrument panel by reduced end I? of guide screw it which extends through the instrument panel and enters a recess 19 formed in the cover plate. Cover plate i5. is preferably provided with a series of recesses. '59 spaced at circumferential intervals on a circle the radius of which is equal to the distance of the center of screw iii from the center of boss 72.

Screw E8 is threaded into an aperture in body portion H, the enlarged portion 8i serving to guide oscillating arm 82 in a manner to be more fully described. The endiof enlarged portion M provides a shoulder which positions screw 18 longitudinally in frame 'lI.

Control operating member 83 is slidably and. rotatably received within cylindrical bore 84 of body II and is provided at its outward end with a knob 88 of any desired form so that it may be conveniently grasped by the hand of an operator. The knob is preferably elongated as shown by Figure 3, or provided with an indicating mark so that when it is rotated, its angular position will be indicated either by the position of its major axis or by said mark. Control member 83 is received within a recess in the knob and is secured by suitable means, as set screw 81.

A detent spring receiving chamber 88 projects from body H and receives coil spring 89 within a longitudinal bore 98. Ball detent 9| seats in grooves 92 or 93 in control member 83 under the influence of spring 88 to retain the member in the position to which it may have been moved longitudinally by knob 86.

The end of member 83 opposite knob 86 is threaded to receive swivel nut 95. Aperture 9? in swivel nut 35 is slightly larger in diameter than control wire 66. After insertion through aperture 81 of swivel nut 95, an enlargement indicated at 98 is formed on the end of control wire 68 in any suitable way for example by spreading the strands of the wire and applying solder or other molten metal thereto. If the control wire to be used is a solid wire, its end may be upset slightly. Nut 95 can then be threaded over the end of control member 83, the knob 98 on the control wire causing a pull to be transmitted when member 83 is moved to the left, but permitting relative rotation between member 83 and Wire 66.

Arm 89 of frame II extends parallel to the control member 83 beyond its limit of inward movement. The right angled end of arm 99 is apertured to receive control cable 61 and is bifurcated beyond the aperture. The bifurcations of the arm are clamped together to hold control cable 61 firmly in its aperture in the arm by means of screw I88 which threadedly engages one of the apertures.

The opening in the instrument panel which receives the end 1! of guide screw 18 may be located in any position about the center of the aperture which receives the boss I2 so that the control device 8 may be mounted in any desired angular position, depending on the desired arrangement of the control cables 58 and 61 in the vehicle. As previously described, cover plate 15 is preferably recessed at several points 19 so that its major axis will be vertical irrespective of the angular position of frame 'Il.

Knob 88 may be secured to control member 83 so that with the parts in the position illustrated, the major axis of knob 86 will coincide with the major axis of cover plate 15. The relative position of cover plate 15 and knob 86 will then be an indication of the position of the controlling members regardless of the angular position selected for the installation of the frame 'II.

Reciprocating member 83, when moved to the left as viewed in Figure 1, exerts a pull on control wire 86, which, if it is connected to freewheeling control lever IB, as illustrated by Figure 3, will move it to the left also. Ball detent SI engages in groove 93 to retain the parts in position, the inner end of cap 95 serving as a stop to define the limit of the movement of control member 83 to the left. The hub of knob 86 abuts the outer face of nut 16 to define the inward limit of movement of member 83, where it is held by ball detent 9| engaging groove 92.

Member 83 is substantially square in crosssection between its threaded end and the end which receives control knob 86. The corners of the squared portion are slightly rounded as indicated by reference character II, the radius of the arcuate surfaces being but very slightly less than the radius of bore 84 so that the member is journaled for rotation within the bore.

Oscillating control member 82 previously mentioned has a squared aperture of substantially the same configuration as the cross-section of the middle portion of control member 83 over which it fits. Member 82 is rotated about an axis coinciding with the center of its squared opening as control member 83 is rotated by reason of the interlocking engagement of the squared portion of. member 83 within the squared aperture. An arouate guide slot I83 receives enlarged portion 8| of the guide screw shank 78, which guides member 82 and fixes the extreme limits of its oscillation. A groove I04 in frame II serves as a guide for the free end of member 82 and assists in assembling the parts in a manner to be described.

Oscillating member 82 is maintained in either one of its extreme positions by means of ball detent I85, which is pressed by spring I8? against either one of apertures I88 and 589 which are smaller in diameter than ball I85. Apertures I88 and we are connected by an arcuate slot III which aids in releasing the ball detent as knob is turned without affecting the firmness of the hold of the detent in either of the apertures. Ball W5 and spring I8? are received in cylindrical bore H2 in the forwardly extending arm 98 of frame member "II, which is in alignment with aperture H3 to permit insertion of the spring and the ball within bore H2 prior to the assembly of members 83 and 82 with frame I Arm H5 of frame ll extends radially from the central portion of the frame to a point opposite the free end of member 82 when it is positioned as shown by Figure 2. The end of the arm is apertured to receive control cable 58 and is bifurcated beyond the aperture. The bifurcations of the arm are clamped together to hold the control cable by clamping screw II'I.

Control wire 58 is secured to the free end of member 82 so that as the member is oscillated in a counterclockwise direction, a pull is exerted on control wire 55 to move end 58 of the latch 4| to the left in Figure 3 to withdraw hook 4| from engagement with pedal 3!.

A special bolt H8 comprises a hexagonal portion I2I, a threaded end I22 which is received within an aperture in the free end of member 82 in which it is secured by nut I23, and a cylindrical portion I25. The latter is provided with a hole slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of control wire 56 which is inserted therein. Control wire 56 is secured in the hole in bolt II9 by means if cap member I2"! which fits over cylindrical portion I25 of the bolt and is clamped against the wire by a nut I28 threaded over the reduced threaded end I29 of bolt H9.

The individual parts of the control device of this invention described above may be readily assembled in the following manner. Nut 85 is first slipped over the free end of control wire 66 which is exposed beyond cable 51, so that knob 98 may be formed on its end prior to the assembly operations about to be described. Spring Mill is introduced int'o cylindrical bore H2 in which it may beflr'eadily seated as this bore is in axialalignment with borel it, (Figure 1). Member'llZ is inserted from above as'viewed in Figures 1 and 2 into slot 104, holding ball I05 in pl'aceagainstthepresure of spring llll.

Next in order is the introduction of spring 89 and ball de'tent 9| into cylindrical recess which may be conveniently accomplished, as this recess extends beyond cylindri'cal b'ore'M to the outside of frame l l. Reciprocable member '83 may now be introduced into bore 84 from the left as viewed in Figure 1 through the squaredopening'in member 82 which has been aligned with bore 89 when performing the assembling operation'pr-eviouslydescribed. Guide screw i3 is now threaded into frame member H to retain the parts thus iar assembled in the proper position.

Frame "M and the parts assembled therewith are now ready for attachment to panel 6 by inserting boss '42 andthe end ll of the guide screw into suitable holes'pr'ovided in panel 6. Aspreviously explained, the apertures which are formed in panel *6 to "receive the end ll of the screw may be located soth'at control device 8 will rest back of the instrument panel in its most convenient position for ready connection of cables 59 and 67.

Cover member We is slipped over the exposed end o'fboss 12 after which 'frame H may be securely clamped against the panel by means of nut l9 I-Iand-Ie'BBis appliedover and secured to'member B ll by set screw 'tl. The control device is assem'bledandiin'positionon the vehicle ready for connection with control cables 58 and 61.

Controlcabletl, to which swivel nut has been previously applied, may be installed by inserting the free end of the cable which in this instance is 'to loe connected to lever it through the aperture in the bifurcated end of arm 99. The control cable may now be passed for its entire length through the aperture in arm 99 until the end of sheath El is flush with one side of arm 99, after which it is clamped firmly in position by screw lot which draws the bifurcations of the arms together. Nut 95 may now be threadedly engaged with the threaded end of control member 83.

By following the suggested method of applying control cable 9i to arm 99, a plurality of such cables of proper length can be made up in advance and fitted with nuts 95 with a saving of time and expense when installing the device on each individual vehicle.

Control cable 58 is inserted in the aperture between bifurcations of arm I I 5, after which it may be clamped in position by means of screw I ll. Control wire 56 is then inserted into the hole in bolt M9 and cap member an is slipped over cylindrical shank portion 525 of the screw. The cap is clamped firmly against the control wire by nut I29 which engages the threaded end I29 of the bolt.

The operation of the unitary control device of this invention will now be described in connection with the operation of control lever i6 and latch member 3 I. However, it is to be understood that control cables 99 and ti. may be connected to any pair of members which are to be moved from a remote point.

To move control lever it from the full line position of Figure 3, handle 93 is pulled to the left to its dotted line position as shown on Figure 1. Control wire 66 is thus drawn to the left as viewed in Figure 1 or to the right as viewed in Figure 3 inwhich control device 8 is illustrated as being installed in a position from the plane of the cross -secticnal view of Figure 1. Device 9 is illustrated in Figure 1 in a position opposite to its position in Figure3 for the sake of clarity.

Hook M of the clutch'pedal latch member may be moved to the right as viewed in Figure l to release clutch pedal 9i by'rotating knob 99 in a clockwise direction as Viewed on Figure 3, or in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2. Rotation of knob 89 imparts rotary movement to member 82,w'hich swings about the center of control member 93. The end of control wire 56 opposite the end which is secured to member '82 is drawn within the sheath of control cable 58 andzmoves end 59 of the latch member upwardly as viewed on Figure 4. Hook ill moves to the right to releasepedal ill from its automatic position-so'that it may assume the engaged position previously described.

Horizontal edge 52 of hook ll prevents reengagement of hook M with pedal 3!! and thus protects control cable 58 from injury in the event that knob 99 is restored to its vertical position before pedal M has been depressed to its automatic position.

Figure '5 illustrates a slightly modified form of the invention illustrated by Figures 3 and 4. Referring to this figure, member 39 is pivotally mountedon bracket 48 which is adjustably carried by support 95, as'previously described in connection withthe description of the structure illustrated by Figures 3 and 4. Spring 92 acts to bias the upper portion of latch member 99 bearing pedal engaging hook ii to theleft as viewed in Figure 5. Hook 9! is provided with a steeply inclined edge'indicated by numeral 592, which acts as a cam so that hook ll will be displaced to the right as pedal 9 i is moved from its extreme righthand or engaged position toward the automatic position, after which biasing spring 97.. will return the upper portion of detent member 99 to the left with hook t! in engagement with pedal 3 i.

The means just described provide for automatically retaining clutch pedal 3!! in its automatic full line position when it is moved from the extreme right-hand position.

In order to prevent twisting of control wire 56 and possible damage to the mechanism of control device 8, a 10st motion connection of control wire 56 to latch 39 is provided.

The lost motion connection may take the form of a link 034 slotted as indicated at 1139 with the slot in engagement with pin lt'l.

When the control device of this invention is used to control the modified latch member of Figure 5, spring pressed detent [I95 may be omitted in which case control wire 59 may be directly connected to latch member 39 in the manner illustrated and described in connection with Figure 4. With this alternative arrangement, rotation of knob 86 will release pedal 9!! from its automatic position and control wire 56 and knob 86 will return to the position illustrated by Figure 3 when the knob is released under the influence of spring 92. Pedal 3! may be returned to and held in its automatic position merely by moving it inwardly to a point at or beyond its automatic position. As the pedal approaches its automatic position, knob 96 will momentarily rotate in a clockwise direction as pedal 3i cams hook ii to the right.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without departing from the spirit or essential character stics thereof. The p n embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A device for operating a plurality of control means comprising a unitary frame having a projection adapted for connection to an apertured panel, said projection and the body of said frame being provided with an axially extending bore, a manually operable member extending beyond said projection journaled for rotation in said bore and movable axially to a plurality of positions, detent means seated adjacent said bore for retaining said manually operable member in any one of its positions, an oscillating member guided in a slot in said frame and operably engaged with said manually operable member to be oscillated thereby as said manually operable member is rotated, detent means seated adjacent said slot for retaining said oscillatable member in any one of its positions, and connecting means on said manually operable member and said oscillating member for connection to individual remote control means.

2. A device for operating a plurality of control means comprising a frame adapted to be mounted in a panel member, a plurality of extended arms on said frame having clamping means for a control cable, a manually operable member mounted for rotation and reciprocation in said frame, connecting means on said manually operable member for connection to a control wire slidable in a control cable clamped in one of said arms, a member guided in said frame for rotation by said manually operable member but restrained against axial movement, and connecting means on said rotatable members for connection to a control wire slidable in a control cable clamped in the other of said arms whereby said first and second mentioned control wires are actuated by reciprocatory and rotary movements of said manually operable member.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein detent means are provided in said frame for retaining said manually operable member in any one of a plurality of positions and other detent means are provided in said frame for retaining said rotatable member in any one of a plurality of positions.

4. A device for operating a plurality of control means comprising a unitary frame having a projection adapted for connection to an apertured panel, said projection and the body of said frame being provided with an axially extending bore, an apertured cover plate of irregular shape adapted to be received over said projection, a lock nut cooperating with threads on said projection to clamp said frame and said cover plate against opposite sides of said panel, a manually operable member mounted for rotation and reciprocation in said bore, an oscillating member operably engaged with said manually operable member to be oscillated thereby as said manually operable member is rotated, an arcuate guide slot in said oscillating member, and a member screwthreaded into said frame and projecting through said arcuate slot to guide said oscillating member, said screw threaded member extending through said panel and into one of a number of spaced recesses in said cover plate to prevent inadvertent rotation of said cover plate.

ROBERT P. LEWIS. 

